My Dream 100
I was listening to my favorite entrepreneur podcast (Goal Digger) the other day when Jenna Kutcher mentioned an Instagram strategy that perked my ears right up. She gives credit to her buddy Russel Brunson for coming up with it, but she shared it with me (and her hundreds of thousands of listeners) and now I’m sharing it with you. The goodness goes around and around!
The strategy, called Your Dream 100, can actually be used far beyond Instagram, and that’s just one thing I like about it. Before I go into all of that, let me first tell you what it is.
Your Dream 100 is a list of people and organizations you’d love to work with. They are people you admire, with careers and statuses you are striving to achieve. They are solid humans who exemplify in their words and deeds the kind of person you want to become and the career you want to have. Your Dream 100 is like your dream-birthday party invitation list, if everyone on the list could teach you something amazing, help you level up your career or inspire you in a big way. This list is more than an A-List celebrity line up, although certain celebrities may find their way onto your list if their achievements mirror goals of your own. Your Dream 100 should include people, accounts, brands and businesses you want to connect and work with in the future.
Jenna says that to help you populate your list, you can ask yourself the following questions.
Who are the people that I’ve looked to in the past for advice and strategy?
Who are the people that THEY’ve looked up to on their journey?
Who has stories that I find really, really inspiring?
What could we do for each other? What value could I offer?
How can I magnetize these people towards me, too?
How can I magnetize these people towards me, too?
Even before the episode (3 Easy Strategies to Help You Rock Instagram in 2021) ended, I began making mentally selecting people for my list. I’m going to share it here, for two reasons. First of all there are some seriiously amazing people on my list and I know that because I’ve learned a ton from them, I know you can too. Also, I’m a big vicarious learner… meaning, I learn through seeing examples, rather than just hearing theories. So, perhaps by seeing my list, you might get a few ideas for your own Dream 100. (Totally feel free to snag a few of my people for your own list if you’ve got some open spots!)
After you scroll through this list, check out my tips for creating your list and making the most of this strategy.
My Dream 100
Writing
TeacherTube/Teacherpreneur
Writer-Teacher-Crossover List
**Authors I’d like to work with on videos/products/etc.
Business
YouTube
Book Reviewers
General Celebrities
Here are a few tips I discovered while creating my list.
Since my authorpreneur life is multi-facted, I divided it up into categories. This helped me organize the actions I plan to take with the people on my list.
Remember, making the list is only the first step. You have to DO something with your list to make gains with this strategy. You better believe I am sending this blog post to each person on this list as a way to kickstart it’s usefulness!
Write the ways you plan to engage/connect in your planner so they actually get done! Keep in mind that this strategy doesn’t have to stay in the Instagram corner of the internet. For example: This week I am going to comment on 5 Dream 100 Instagram posts, drop into the DM’s via stories of 3 Dream 100 members and watch/comment on 2 YouTube videos.
Make your scrolling purposeful! Instead of aimlessly wandering around the platform, I now strategically visit the instagram profiles of people on my Dream 100 list and engage in their content. If, in the future, I’d like to reach out with an “ask” my name will hopefully register (at least subconciously!) making it easier for them to say yes to whatever fun idea I propose.
For some of the people on this list, I have very specific ideas in mind. For example, I’d love for Kwame Alexander to someday publish my novel-in-progress about gymnast in foster care. I’d love to create a series of virtual panel videos in which several of the educators on this list share their best practices. I pretty much just want to BE Laruen Tarshis.
It’s okay if you don’t get to 100. It’s just a nice round number. (P.S. If you were counting, my list is only at 94 and has a little room to grow!) Getting to 100 is not the important part. If you only have 50, it’s all good! Focus on those people and your relationships with them and make the most of it!
Do you have a writer, author, youtuber, educator or other rockstar human you think would be a great addition to my list? I’d love to hear your suggestions. Please add your recommendations in the comments. I wish you the best as you create your dream list and working towards making impactful and career changing connections.